Felac

What Felac does

FELAC (Federación Española de Asociaciones de Fabricantes de Maquinaria para Hostelería, Colectividades e Industrias Afines) is a Barcelona-based non-profit industry federation founded in 1983 that represents the Spanish hospitality and collective-catering equipment manufacturing sector. It is composed of five constituent business associations—AFACO (large industrial kitchens), AFMA (auxiliary machinery), MACAFE (coffee machines), ACFEH (Catalan hospitality equipment manufacturers), and AFEHC (exporting manufacturers)—which collectively group approximately 130 member companies organized across 16 equipment sub-sectors ranging from large industrial kitchens to single-use products. FELAC operates with a staff of approximately five employees and is recognized as an official Collaborating Entity of the Spanish State Secretariat for Commerce, and is a member of CEOE (Spanish Confederation of Business Organizations) and EFCEM (European Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers). Its technology footprint is essentially a WordPress-based website with a searchable company directory; it does not develop proprietary technology products.

The federation's commercial offering centers on member services funded primarily through association membership fees, delivered across four activity streams: industry representation and lobbying, knowledge dissemination (the FELAC INNOVA digital newsletter, the FELAC Catalog in print and digital format, and annual sector economic reports), internationalization support coordinated through AFEHC with ICEX España Exportación e Inversiones, and event production—most notably the GUEXT International Trade Fair for Hospitality Suppliers and Services, co-organized with IFEMA MADRID (first edition October 18–21, 2024; second edition scheduled October 15–17, 2026). Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: FELAC reaches manufacturers through its five associations, promotes them via its directory and trade fair, and acts as the sector's unified voice in regulatory and standardization forums at the national and European levels. Pricing for membership is not publicly disclosed, and applications require submission of business data including headcount, revenue, and export markets.

Recent strategic emphasis has been on sustainability positioning—exemplified by the Guía Hostelería Circular project with the Catalan Waste Agency (ARC) and technical partner Inèdit—and on elevating the international profile of Spanish hospitality equipment, supported by individual member achievements such as three companies winning 2026 iF Design Awards (Arcos, Resol, and Salva). The underlying sector grew 14% in 2022 and 10% in 2023, providing a favorable macro backdrop. The federation has no AI/ML capabilities of its own, and its core "product" is aggregation, representation, and convening rather than technology development.

Name

Felac

Legal name

Federación Española de Asociaciones de Fabricantes de Maquinaria para Hostelería, Colectividades e Industrias Afines

Website

https://felac.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FELAC is a non-profit Spanish industry federation founded in 1983, representing approximately 130 hospitality equipment manufacturers through five business associations. It delivers membership services, regulatory representation, publications, and co-organizes the GUEXT trade fair with IFEMA MADRID.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Barcelona

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: FELAC generates revenue through membership fees from its five constituent business associations: AFACO, AFMA, MACAFE, ACFEH, and AFEHC, representing approximately 130 Spanish manufacturers of hospitality and community equipment.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Felac is a Spanish non-profit industry federation that represents approximately 130 manufacturers of hospitality and community equipment, organized through five constituent business associations (AFACO, AFMA, MACAFE, ACFEH, AFEHC). It provides sector representation, regulatory advocacy via EFCEM and CEOE, the FELAC INNOVA digital bulletin, annual sector economic reports, the FELAC Catalog, the Guía Hostelería Circular publication, the Premio FELAC lifetime achievement award, and co-organizes the GUEXT international trade fair with IFEMA MADRID. Revenue comes from membership fees of its five constituent associations.

Product overview

FELAC (Federación Española de Asociaciones de Fabricantes de Maquinaria para Hostelería, Colectividades e Industrias Afines) is a non-profit federation representing the Spanish hospitality equipment industry. Founded in 1983 and recognized as a Collaborating Entity of the State Secretariat for Commerce, it groups 130 companies through five business associations (AFACO, AFMA, MACAFE, ACFEH, AFEHC). FELAC's services include the FELAC INNOVA digital bulletin for industry news, the GUEXT trade fair (organized with IFEMA MADRID), annual sector economic reports, the professional lifetime achievement award (Premio FELAC a la Trayectoria Profesional), the Circular Hospitality Guide (Guía Hostelería Circular), and the FELAC Catalog of member companies. The federation also coordinates internationalization activities through AFEHC and provides regulatory information via EFCEM membership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• FELAC INNOVA: Digital newsletter and publication of the Spanish Federation of Associations of Manufacturers of Machinery for Hospitality, Communities and Related Industries, providing information on product news, regulations, export markets, and industry developments.
• GUEXT

Products and services

• FELAC INNOVA Digital Bulletin

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor, flagship and core.

• Agencia de Residuos de Cataluña (ARC)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024The Catalan Waste Agency supported the 'Guía Hostelería Circular' (Circular Hospitality Guide) project through the 'Subvenciones para proyectos de fomento de la economía circular' (Grants for circular economy promotion projects) program. The guide facilitates ecodesign application and new circular economy business models in the hospitality equipment industry.
• Inèdit (estudio de ecoinnovación)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2024Technical execution partner for the 'Guía Hostelería Circular' (Circular Hospitality Guide). Inèdit, an eco-innovation consultancy, provided the technical execution of the circular economy guide project for the hospitality equipment industry, funded by ARC.
• IFEMA MADRIDflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023FELAC co-organizes the GUEXT trade fair with IFEMA MADRID. GUEXT is the International Trade Fair for Suppliers and Services for the Hospitality sector. The first edition took place October 18-21, 2024 at IFEMA MADRID. The second edition is scheduled for October 15-17, 2026.
• AFACO (Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Grandes Cocinas)coreOthersOne of the five constituent business associations of FELAC. AFACO represents Spanish manufacturers of large industrial kitchens and is part of the federation's membership structure.
• AFMA (Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Maquinaria Auxiliar para Hostelería, Colectividades e Industrias Afines)coreOthersOne of the five constituent business associations of FELAC. AFMA represents Spanish manufacturers of auxiliary machinery for hospitality, communities, and related industries.
• MACAFE (Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes y Distribuidores de Máquinas de Café y Similares)coreOthersOne of the five constituent business associations of FELAC. MACAFE represents Spanish manufacturers and distributors of coffee machines and similar equipment.
• ACFEH (Associació Catalana de Fabricants d'Equips per a Hostaleria i Col·lectivitats)coreOthersOne of the five constituent business associations of FELAC. ACFEH is the Catalan Association of Manufacturers of Equipment for Hospitality and Communities.
• AFEHC (Asociación de Fabricantes Españoles Exportadores de Equipamientos para Hostelería y Colectividades)coreOthersOne of the five constituent business associations of FELAC. AFEHC specializes in export promotion and coordinates with ICEX on annual international sectoral promotion plans including trade fair participations and commercial missions.
• EFCEM (Federación Europea de Fabricantes de Equipamiento para Hostelería)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers. FELAC's membership in EFCEM provides access to updated information on legislative developments, standardization, and certification at the European level, as well as the ability to present the position of the Spanish industry on these matters.
• CEOE (Confederación Española de Organizaciones Empresariales)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish Confederation of Business Organizations. FELAC is a member of CEOE, which strengthens its voice as a representative of the hospitality equipment industry within the broader Spanish business community.
• ICEX España Exportación e InversionescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish export and investment agency. Through AFEHC, FELAC coordinates annual sectoral international promotion plans with ICEX, which include trade fair participations and commercial missions worldwide for the internationalization of Spanish hospitality equipment manufacturers.
• Cáritas Diocesana de BarcelonaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFELAC maintains a corporate social responsibility collaboration with Cáritas Diocesana de Barcelona, reflecting its commitment to social responsibility alongside industry representation.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NAFEM (North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers): The leading trade association for foodservice equipment manufacturers in North America. NAFEM is the most direct international peer to FELAC, both being industry federations representing manufacturers of commercial kitchen and hospitality equipment, organizing trade events (e.g., The NAFEM Show) and providing regulatory representation.

Broad incumbents

• AFME (Asociación de Fabricantes de Material Eléctrico): Spanish association of electrical equipment manufacturers. AFME is a peer Spanish industry federation with a similar governance model to FELAC, providing sector representation, economic reports, and regulatory advocacy for member manufacturers.
• AMETIC: The main Spanish federation representing the digital, electronics, and technology industry. Comparable structurally to FELAC as a non-profit Spanish federation grouping member companies, providing regulatory liaison, internationalization, and trade fair coordination.
• EFCEM (European Federation of Catering Equipment Manufacturers): The pan-European federation of catering equipment manufacturers of which FELAC is already a member. EFCEM operates as a broader incumbent across multiple national federations and provides standardization and regulatory representation at the EU level.
• FEDERSALUD / Fenin: Spanish federation of healthcare technology and related industries. While focused on healthcare rather than hospitality, Fenin is structurally analogous to FELAC as a Spanish industry federation providing sector representation, economic reporting, and internationalization support to manufacturers.

Emerging players

• FCSI (Foodservice Consultants Society International): A global professional society for foodservice consultants and equipment specifiers. FCSI overlaps with FELAC's ecosystem in connecting hospitality industry professionals with equipment manufacturers, though it focuses on consultants rather than manufacturers.

Regional players

• HOSTELCO (Fira de Barcelona): Major Spanish trade fair for the hotel and restaurant industry organized by Fira de Barcelona. As a competing hospitality industry event to FELAC's GUEXT, HOSTELCO represents the established alternative for sector trade shows in the Spanish market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FelacInnova
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/felac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Felac